Senior championship under way at Amherst Curling Club

The men took to the rink Thursday afternoon at the Amherst Curling Club. The women start curling tonight.

The men took to the rink Thursday afternoon at the Amherst Curling Club. The women start curling tonight.

AMHERST - The 2018 Nova Scotia Senior Curling Championships are under way at the Amherst Curling Club in Amherst.

Eight men’s and five women’s teams are in Amherst for the five-day event that will qualify teams for the Canadian championships.

On the men’s side, the field includes Team O’Leary, the 2015 World Seniors Silver medalist.

On the women’s, it includes Team Kelly which has three members of Team Jones, the reigning world gold medalist as well as Team Pinkney, who brought home gold from the 2010 World Seniors and a silver medal from the 2014 World Senior Curling Championships.

Amherst will have one team competing. The Ray Fowler rink will play on the men’s side.

The men will follow a modified triple knockout format while the women will play a round robin followed by a modified playoff.

Play began today at 4 p.m. with all eight men’s teams taking to the ice.

Women’s play begins today at 7:30 p.m.

Draws continue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. and 2 and 7:30 p.m.

The competition ends on Heritage Day, on Monday.

The winners will represent Nova Scotia at the 2018 Everist Canadian Senior Curling Championships in Stratford, Ont. from March 24 to 29.

Other upcoming events at the club include the Nova Scotia Burn Unit Funspiel from Feb. 23 to 24 with entertainment by Three Bob Night, while the year-end funspiel is set for March 23 to 26.